Understanding Culture Studies Centers and Their Role in the Improvement of Diversity in American Education

• In Event: 66.058 - Roundtable Session 28
  In Roundtable Session: 66.058-1 - "Storying" and Understanding the Diverse Experiences of Marginalized Students in Higher Education

Abstract

America continues to struggle with issues of race and inclusion despite its efforts to advance racial equality and relations. Stereotypes, misconceptions, and miscommunication between ethnic groups perpetuate the racial tensions of the past. While some social advances have been made since the Civil Rights movement, America’s education curriculum has changed minimally. A mainstream-centric curriculum has stifled the identities, voices, and cultures of underrepresented groups. The current American higher education curriculum places culture studies courses and centers as electives not required in the core education. In order to better understand these implications, this paper seeks to examine culture studies centers, programs, and courses and their placement within American education curriculum and the improvement of diversity relations in American society.

Authors

• Rickey Frierson, University of Houston

• Trang A. Phan, University of Houston